Tag: scrimshaw

Michael Cohen Site Update

Posted on by Andrew Perkins

 

Scrimshawed harbor scene by Michael Cohen with a ship setting sail and people waving from the dock
Harbor Scene by Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen, a longtime scrimshaw artist has recently updated his site.  His work includes Ships, Mermaids, Native Americans, Fantasy, Wildlife, Pin-Ups and more.  He works mainly on mammoth ivory and the detail is amazing. He was employed by the Alaska Silver and Ivory Company in Bellingham, Washington back in 1973 when there was a renewed interest in scrimshaw that lasted until the 1980’s, then became a freelance artist to this day.

Michael also does custom scrimshaw on request.  Please visit the sites below for inquiries on custom scrimshaw.

The pricing for his work is a real bargain for collectors and non-collectors alike.  You can see and purchase some of his work at this site:

http://lizsumner.com/mcscrimshaw/

Working in scrimshaw and other mediums, Michael’s main site is:

http://michaelcohenart.com/

Scrimshaw? But I Can’t Draw!

Scrimshaw? But I Can’t Draw!

Posted on by Andrew
Love scrimshaw? Can’t Draw? Many whale-men, the original scrimshaw artists couldn’t draw either. Using their ingenuity and the tools at hand, they were able to fashion memorable pieces of art and carvings that survive to this day. You can scrimshaw, even if you can’t draw! It only takes a little guidance, some basic tools and a touch of modern technology.Using ancient mammoth ivory, natural “vegetable ivory” or other materials, you can create beautiful works of art the way the sailors did, without needing to lean over the port bow! A great way to de-stress, scrimshaw will bring you into a world of art you may never have thought possible to achieve.
“Scrimshaw? But I Can’t Draw!!” has links and instructions to everything you need to learn how to scrimshaw:

  • sources for fossilized ivory
  • “vegetable” ivory
  • tools
  • pigments
  • how to prepare tools and materialsScrimshaw? But I Can't Draw! Book Cover
  • techniques for shading
  • polishes and preservatives, and more.

Great book for beginners and who can and cannot draw, “Scrimshaw? But I Can’t Draw!” will walk you through the simple steps that many of the top scrimshaw artists use today.

Available at Amazon